what was Chipko-Andolan how did A.K Banerjee help in raving the degraded sal forest of west bengal ?
Chipko Andolan (Hug the Trees Movement)
This movement originated in a remote village called Reni in Garhwal, in the early 1970s. A contractor was given permission to cut down the trees in a forest near the village. However, the villagers were against the decision. They were aware that diminishing forest cover would disturb the ecological balance. Therefore, there was a dispute between the contractor and the villagers. On a particular day, when the men folk in the village were away at work, the employees of the contractor visited the forest to cut down the trees. The women of the village then reached the forest and each one wrapped her hand around a tree trunk; thus, preventing the workers from destroying the forest.
Another example of active participation of people toward the conservation of biodiversity is found in an incident related to the Arabari forest range in Midnapore district, West Bengal. A forest officer, A. K. Banerjee, involved the villagers for the protection of the 1,272 hectares of badly degraded Sal forests. In return, the villagers were provided with employment opportunities in silviculture and harvesting. They were also allowed to collect firewood from the forest. The effect of this involvement was that the forest became dense and green within a period of 10 years.
This movement originated in a remote village called Reni in Garhwal, in the early 1970s. A contractor was given permission to cut down the trees in a forest near the village. However, the villagers were against the decision. They were aware that diminishing forest cover would disturb the ecological balance. Therefore, there was a dispute between the contractor and the villagers. On a particular day, when the men folk in the village were away at work, the employees of the contractor visited the forest to cut down the trees. The women of the village then reached the forest and each one wrapped her hand around a tree trunk; thus, preventing the workers from destroying the forest.
Another example of active participation of people toward the conservation of biodiversity is found in an incident related to the Arabari forest range in Midnapore district, West Bengal. A forest officer, A. K. Banerjee, involved the villagers for the protection of the 1,272 hectares of badly degraded Sal forests. In return, the villagers were provided with employment opportunities in silviculture and harvesting. They were also allowed to collect firewood from the forest. The effect of this involvement was that the forest became dense and green within a period of 10 years.